Rigorous life-imprisonment awarded in two dowry death cases

STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In two cases of dowry related deaths, a family comprising, parents-in-law and sister-in- law was awarded rigorous life imprisonment on Friday for killing daughter-in-law while in yet another case husband got lifer for killing his wife.
Principal Sessions Judge Bhadarwah M.K Sharma awarded rigorous life-imprisonment to Satish Kumar father-in-law, his wife Ram Pyari and his sister Dhaneshwari Devi for killing their daughter-in-law for dowry.
After hearing both the sides, the Judge observed that the convicts were first offenders.
“The victim was a young lady of 22 years with a minor daughter in her lap. She was living with the convicts Satish Kumar and Ram Pyari, whereas convict Dhaneshwari Devi was a guest. It is, therefore, not an exceptional case in which instead of life imprisonment, death sentence could be awarded. Though, it is a case of a death of a young bride but it does not fall in the category of rarest of rare cases where the death sentence is warranted. The convicts are, therefore, sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life and fine of Rs. 5,000 each for the commission of offence under Section 302/34 RPC”, he observed.
According to the police case, the deceased Deepika Kumari was married to Anil Kumar in December 2009, and the couple was blessed with a daughter. The accused used to harass and beat the deceased for want of dowry. On 11th March 2011, all the accused persons with common criminal intention called the deceased to a room with the plea to prepare tea for them and caught hold the deceased and smothered her to death.
In the other case, Principal Sessions Judge Udhampur Kikar Singh Parihar awarded rigorous life-imprisonment to Kamlesh Kumar for killing his wife for dowry.
According to the police case, on 19th May 2014, Police Station Pancheri received an information that body of Sushma Devi, wife of Kamlesh Kumar, resident of Katti Tehsil and District Udhampur, age 19 to 20 years, was found hanging with a tree at Khalya Da Bar jungle Katti and the cause of death was not known. During the proceedings under Section 174 Cr.P.C, statement of the mother of the deceased was also recorded, in which she stated that soon after the marriage of her daughter, her son-in-law started harassing the deceased for dowry and even subjected her to physical violence. She further stated that the accused was advised not to harass Sushma on the pretext of dowry as they were not in a position to fulfill his demand since the father of the deceased was already expired but the accused did not changed his behaviour and on 18th May 2014 subjected his wife to physical violence and consequently she ended her life.
After hearing both the sides, the Judge observed that the accused had committed a pre-planned and pre-meditated murder of deceased in a barbaric manner but in his opinion if given a chance there was every possibility of the accused being reformed.
“It is also not established by prosecution that alternative punishment of life imprisonment would be futile and would serve no purpose and we are living in an era of reformation and I find no reason why the convicted accused cannot reform himself in future and become good citizen again”, with these observations, the Judge observed that a sentence of life imprisonment would meet the ends of justice for offence under Section 302 RPC.
Accordingly, the Judge sentenced accused to rigorous life-imprisonment and fine of Rs. 5000 under Section 302 RPC. “In default of payment of fine he shall undergo simple imprisonment for six months. He is also sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1000 under Section 498-A RPC.
In default of payment of fine he shall undergo further simple imprisonment for one month. All the sentences of the accused however shall run concurrently”, the court observed.